I will confess — the idea of generating multiple posts based on a real time event line would always be challenging — particularly if you missed the first contextual post and as I started wading through the first of what would be 56 individual posts, I wondered if this was a fantastic idea, or an appallingly misguided adventure. I received some criticism and questioning as well — but, to be honest those that responded in this way are not known to me — perhaps these individuals are like neighbours at a family get together — they watch, they try to understand, but ultimately, they are simply ignorant of the ways, history and knowledge of the family — they smile and purse their lips — but they simply do not understand…..
This was then finished after what I thought to be an appropriate and realistic delay to note the missing status of the three crews that were lost that night. I actually hoped for not a sensational, but perhaps a surprised, engaged realisation that the Squadron were leaving on an Op — the spectacle of departure and then, simply the awful wait, the looking at watches, at Ops room clocks, the pacing and sipping from NAAFI tea cups, until the low lands filled with the tired howl of Merlins and the names of the crews could be checked off the board.
The final realisation that three Lancasters and their crews were missing, was intentionally left like that. It was about trying to capture that awful, dawning acceptance that time had simply run out — all avenues of alternative havens had been exhausted — the boys would simply not come back……. My inclination, at a point later, not advertised is simply to remove these posts. Perhaps in this way we recorded the brief event — witnessed but then lost and only held in our thoughts, as if we were there to see it — to be able to say it happened and you saw it, but now, again it is gone.
The ceremony is streamed live, so with regional adjustments this means the service will be able to be watched: — United Kingdom London — New Zealand Wellington — Canada Ottawa. Phillip Smith WOP. Front row L to R; Sgt. Dennis Bryer Mug , Sgt. Having been contacted by Paul I would like to give everybody advance notice of a daily event that takes place at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. At the end of each day, commencing at 4. The ceremony begins with the singing of the Australian National Anthem, followed by the poignant strains of a Lament, played by a piper.
Visitors are invited to lay wreaths and floral tributes beside the Pool of Reflection. The Roll of Honour in the Cloisters lists the names of more than , Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations over more than a century. At each ceremony the story behind one of these names will be told. The Ode is then recited, and the ceremony ends with the sounding of the Last Post.
